The famous Flower of SERVING-MEN.  
OR, The Lady turned servingman.  
Her Lord being slain, her Father dead,  
Her Bower robbed, her Servants fled;  
She dressed herself in man's attire:  
She trimmed her Locks, she cut her Hair;  
And therewithal she changed her Name,  
From Fair ELISE to Sweet WILLIAM.  
To a delicate new Tune, Or, Flora farewell. Summer time. Or, Loves Tide.  

 

YOu beauteous Ladies great and small,  
I write unto you one and all,  
Whereby that you may understand  
What I have suffered in this Land.   

I was by birth a Lady fair,  
My father's chief and only Heir.  
But when my good old Father died,  
Then was I made a young knight's Bride.   

And then my Love built me a Bower,  
Bedecked with many a fragrant flower;  
A braver Bower you never did see,  
Than my true Lover built for me.   

But there came Thieves late in the night,  
They broke my Bower, and slew my Knight,  
And after that my Knight was slain,  
I could no longer there remain:   

For my servants all from me did fly,  
I'th' midst of my extremity,  
And left me by myself alone,  
With a heart more cold than any stone.   

Yet though my heart was full of grief & care,  
Heaven would not suffer me to despair,  
Wherefore in haste I changed my name,  
From fair Elise to sweet William.   

And therewithal I cut my hair,  
And dressed myself in man's attire;  
My Doublet, Hose, and Beaver Hat,  
And a golden Band about my Neck.   

With a silver Raypier by my side,  
So like a Gallant I did ride:  
The thing that I delighted on,  
Was for to be a servingman.   

Thus in my sumptuous man's array,  
I bravely rode along the way;  
And at the last it chanced so,  
That I unto the King's Court did go.   

Then to the King I bowed full low,  
My love and duty for to show,  
And so much favour I did crave,  
That I a servingman's place might have.    

The Second Part,  
to the same Tune.  
 
 

STand up brave Youth the King replied,  
Thy service shall not be denied:  
But tell me first what thou canst do,  
Thou shalt be fitted thereunto.   

Wilt thou be usher of my Hall,  
To wait upon my Nobles all?  
Or wilt thou be Taster of my Wine,  
To wait on me when I do dine?   

Or wilt thou be my Chamberlain,  
To make my Bed both soft and fine:  
Or wilt thou be one of my Guard,  
And I will give thee thy reward.   

Sweet William with a smiling face,  
Said to the King, If't please your Grace,  
To show such favour unto me,  
Your Chamberlain I fain would be.   

The King then did his Nobles call,  
To ask the Counsel of them all;  
Who gave consent sweet William he,  
The Kings own Chamberlain should be.   

Now mark what strange things come to pass  
As the King one day a hunting was,  
With all his Lords and noble train,  
Sweet William did at home remain.   

Sweet William had no company than  
With him at home, but an old man;  
And when he saw the coast was clear,  
He took a Lute which he had there.   

Upon the Lute sweet William played.  
And to the same he sang and said,  
With a pleasant and most noble voice,  
Which made the old man's heart rejoice.   

Sweet William's Song.  

MY Father was as brave a Lord,  
As any Europe did afford;  
My Mother was a Lady bright,  
My Husband was a valiant Knight.   

And I myself a Lady gay,  
Bedecked with gorgeous rich array:  
The bravest Lady in the Land  
Had not more pleasures to command.   

I had my music every day,  
Harmonious Lessons for to play:  
I had my Virgins fair and free  
Continually to wait on me.   

But now alas my Husband is dead,  
And all my Friends are from me fled:  
My former joys are past and gone,  
For I am now a servingman,   
The End of Sweet William's Song.   

At last the King from hunting came,  
And presently upon the same  
He called for the good old man:  
And thus to speak the King began.   

What news, what news, old man (quoth he)  
What news hast thou for to tell me;  
Brave news the old man than did say,  
Sweet William is a Lady gay.   

If this be true thou tellest me,  
I'll make thee a Lord of high degree:  
But if thy words do prove a lie,  
Thou shalt be hanged up presently.   

But when the truth the King had found,  
His joys did more and more abound;  
According as the old man did say,  
Sweet William was a Lady gay.   

Wherefore the King without delay  
Put her on glorious rich array,  
And upon her head a Crown of Gold,  
Which was most famous to behold.   

And then for fear of further strife,  
He took sweet William to his Wife:  
The like before was never seen,  
A servingman to be a Queen.   
L. P.   
FINIS.   

Entered according to Order.   

London, Printed for John Andrews, at the White Lion near pie-corner.